[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38200-38202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18695]



[[Page 38199]]

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Part II





Department of Commerce





_______________________________________________________________________



Economic Development Administration



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Economic Development Assistance Program for Disaster Recovery 
Activities, Availability of Funds; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 136 / Wednesday, July 16, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 38200]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration
[Docket No. 950302065-7163-08]
RIN 0610-ZA03


Economic Development Assistance Program for Disaster Recovery 
Activities, Availability of Funds

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of 
Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Supplementary notice.

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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) announces the 
policies and the application procedures for funds available to support 
disaster recovery projects designed to assist affected states and local 
communities recover from the consequences of the 1997 floods, 
tornadoes, and other natural disasters in the states of North Dakota, 
South Dakota, Minnesota, Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
    EDA's program will be to assist disaster-impacted areas with 
revolving loan funds, and the construction of new and expanded 
infrastructure and development facilities required for economic 
development to alleviate the economic distress of the areas.

DATES: This announcement is effective July 16, 1997. Applications are 
accepted on a continuous basis and funds shall remain available until 
expended.

ADDRESSES: To establish merits of project proposals, interested parties 
should contact the Philadelphia Regional Office, Chicago Regional 
Office, Denver Regional Office, Atlanta Regional Office, or Austin 
Regional Office, or the appropriate Economic Development Representative 
for the area (see listing in ``Other Information'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: See listing in ``Other Information'' 
section of this Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicants should be aware that a false 
statement on the application is grounds for denial of the application 
or termination of the grant award and grounds for possible punishment 
by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products 
authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program 
must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible.
    The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an 
application under any EDA programs must not exceed the indirect cost 
rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the 
proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total 
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is 
less.
    Applicants seeking an early start, i.e., to begin a project before 
EDA approval, must obtain a letter from EDA allowing such early start. 
Such approval may be given with the understanding that an early start 
does not constitute project approval. Applicants should be aware that 
if they incur any costs prior to an award being made they do so solely 
at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. 
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of DoC to cover preaward 
costs.
    If an application is selected for funding, EDA has no obligation to 
provide any additional future funding in connection with an award. 
Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of 
performance is at the sole discretion of EDA.
    Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in 
an application not being considered for funding.
    No award of Federal funds will be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
    1. The delinquent account is paid in full;
    2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received; or
    3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number. This notice involves a collection of information 
requirement subject to the provisions of the PRA and has been approved 
by OMB under Control Number 0610-0094.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

    The Special Economic Development Adjustment Assistance Program--
Long Term Economic Deterioration and Sudden and Severe Economic 
Dislocation is listed under CFDA 11.307 (13 CFR Part 308). Public 
Works and Development Facilities Assistance and Public Works Impact 
Program are listed under CFDA 11.300 and CFDA 11.304 (13 CFR part 
305).

Funding Availability

    Funds in the amount of $50.2 million are available for this 
disaster relief program and shall remain available until expended. 
These funds are provided from the 1997 Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations Act For Recovery From Natural Disasters And For Overseas 
Peacekeeping Efforts, Including Those In Bosnia (Pub. L. 105-18). The 
funds are available for awarding disaster assistance grants pursuant to 
the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended. 
Funds will be apportioned as follows: North Dakota, South Dakota, and 
Minnesota--$26.2 million; Kentucky--$15.0 million, West Virginia--$3.0 
million; Ohio--$2.0 million; Indiana--$1.0 million; Illinois--$1.0 
million; Arkansas--$1.0 million; Tennessee--$1.0 million.

Grant Rates

    Grant rates, as established by the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965, as amended (PWEDA) and its implementing 
regulations at 13 CFR Chapter III, may vary, if permitted by PWEDA and 
its implementing regulations, and will depend on the type of applicant, 
relative needs and financial capacity of applicants. In most cases, a 
nonfederal local share of not less than 25% will be required. In rare 
and extenuating circumstances, EDA may waive the local share 
requirement where permitted by PWEDA and its implementing regulations 
at 13 CFR chapter III.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include the states or political subdivisions 
thereof, including municipalities and quasi-public corporations and 
authorities, Indian tribes, Community Development Corporations, and 
nonprofit corporations representing an EDA-designated redevelopment 
area or part thereof located in affected disaster areas in the States 
of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kentucky, West Virginia, 
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

Proposal Submission Procedures

    Proposals for assistance under this disaster recovery program shall 
be submitted to EDA on a completed Form Ed-900P, OMB Control No. 0610-
0094. Applicants must clearly demonstrate how the EDA assistance will 
help the area recover from the economic hardship and other problems 
caused by flood damage, tornado, or other disasters, and that such 
assistance has been preceded by sound planning. Interested parties 
should contact the

[[Page 38201]]

appropriate Economic Development Representative for the area, or the 
appropriate EDA Regional Office for a proposal package (see Listing 
under ``Other Information'').

Application Procedures

    A determination of whether to invite an application under this 
disaster recovery program for EDA assistance will be issued based upon 
the Agency's review of the applicant's proposal under the evaluation 
criteria herein and EDA's regulations at 13 CFR Chapter III.

Funding Instrument

    Funds will be awarded in accordance with the requirements of title 
I, title IV, and title IX of the Public Works and Economic Development 
Act of 1965, as amended (Pub. L. 89-136; 42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) 
(PWEDA) and EDA's regulations at 13 CFR chapter III. The appropriate 
title for grant application and award will be determined by EDA based 
on the nature of the project and the eligibility of the area.

Project Selection Criteria

    It is anticipated that the funds announced herein for disaster 
recovery assistance may not be sufficient to meet all of the economic 
recovery needs for which requests are received. Evaluation criteria 
will not be assigned weights. EDA will consider the following criteria 
to select the grant project award. While each of the criteria are 
important, any one or combination of criteria may be the basis for 
selecting an application for award: (1) Projects that are consistent 
with an area Economic Adjustment Strategy, the Overall Economic 
Development Program for the area, or the State Emergency Recovery Plan; 
(2) the degree to which EDA funding is leveraged with appropriate 
state, local, private, and other Federal assistance efforts; (3) the 
extent to which projects are located in areas with a high levels of 
economic distress; (4) the degree to which projects enhance/stimulate 
sustainable economic development; (5) the extent to which projects 
mitigate the impacts of future disasters; (6) the relative impact 
projects have for assisting in the post-disaster recovery of the area; 
and (7) the extent to which the project will directly or indirectly 
tend to improve opportunities in the area for the establishment or 
expansion of industrial or commercial facilities and/or primarily 
benefit members of low-income families.
    To establish the merits of project proposals, interested parties 
should contact the EDA Economic Development Representative or EDA 
Regional Office for the area (see listing below) for a proposal form, 
(ED-900P). Requests for assistance shall be submitted directly to the 
EDA Economic Development Representative or EDA Regional Office that 
serves the area (see listing below).
    EDA will evaluate proposals to determine whether they can meet the 
criteria established. Following the review of the proposals, EDA will 
invite those entities whose projects are selected for consideration to 
submit full applications (ED-900A, OMB Control No. 0610-0094). In 
addition to the real property title requirements at 13 CFR 314.7, 
applicants will be expected to submit satisfactory evidence of rights 
of entry assuring prompt access to project property at time of grant 
award in those cases where applicants do not hold title to all real 
property requirements for the projects at time of application.

Other Information

    Except as modified herein, evaluation criteria, competitive 
selection procedures, application procedures, and other requirements 
for the applicable assistance program are described at 13 CFR Chapter 
III.
    For further information contact the appropriate Economic 
Development Representative or EDA Regional Office listed below: John E. 
Corrigan, Regional Director, Philadelphia Regional Office, Curtis 
Center, Independence Square West, Suite 140 South, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania 19106, Telephone: (215) 597-4603, Internet Address: 
[email protected]

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             Philadelphia region                     States covered     
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R. Byron Davis, Economic Development           West Virginia.           
 Representative, 405 Capitol Street, Room                               
 411, Charleston, West Virginia 25201,                                  
 Telephone: (304) 347-5252, Internet Address:                           
 [email protected].                                                       
                                                                        
William J. Day, Jr., Regional Director, Atlanta Regional Office, 401    
 West Peachtree Street, NW., Suite 1820, Atlanta, GA 30308-3510,        
 Telephone: (404) 730-3002, Internet Address: [email protected]              
                                                                        
                Atlanta Region                                          
Bobby D. Hunter, Economic Development          Kentucky.                
 Representative, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite                             
 200, Lexington, Kentucky 40503-5477,                                   
 Telephone: (606) 224-7426, Internet Address:                           
 [email protected].                                                       
Mitchell Parks, Economic Development           Tennessee.               
 Representative, 261 Cumberland Bend Drive,                             
 Nashville, Tennessee 37228, Telephone: (615)                           
 736-5911, Internet Address: [email protected].                            
                                                                        
John D. Woodward, Regional Director, Denver Regional Office, 1244 Speer 
 Boulevard, Room 670, Denver, CO 80204, Telephone: (303) 844-4714,      
 Internet Address: [email protected]                                     
                                                                        
                Denver Region                                           
Paul Hildebrandt, Economic Development         North Dakota.            
 Representative, 608 East Cherry Street, Room                           
 B-2, Columbia, Missouri 65201, Telephone:                              
 (573) 442-8084, Internet Address:                                      
 [email protected].                                                     
Robert I. Cecil, Economic Development          South Dakota.            
 Representative, Federal Building, Room 593A,                           
 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309,                             
 Telephone: (515) 284-4746, Internet Address:                           
 [email protected].                                                        
Robert Turner, Regional Contact, 1244 Speer    North Dakota and South   
 Boulevard, Room 670, Denver, Colorado 80204,   Dakota.                 
 Telephone: (303) 844-4474, Internet Address:                           
 [email protected].                                                      
                                                                        
C. Robert Sawyer, Regional Director, Chicago Regional Office, 111 North 
 Canal Street, Suite 855, Chicago, Illinois 60606-7204, Telephone: (312)
 353-7706, Internet Address: [email protected]                            
                Chicago Region                                          
John B. Arnold, Economic Development           Minnesota and Illinois.  
 Representative, 515 West First Street, Room                            
 104, Duluth, Minnesota 55802, Telephone:                               
 (218) 720-5326, Internet Address:                                      
 [email protected].                                                       
Robert F. Hickey, Economic Development         Ohio and Indiana.        
 Representative, 200 North High Street,                                 
 Federal Building, Room 740, Columbus, Ohio                             
 43215, Telephone: (614) 469-7314, Internet                             
 Address: [email protected].                                              
Pedro Garza, Regional Director, Austin Regional Office, Homer Thornberry
 Building, Suite 121, 903 San Jacinto Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78701-   
 2450, Telephone: (512) 916-5595, Internet Address: [email protected], 903 
 San Jacinto Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78701-2450, Telephone (512) 916-  
 5824, Internet Address: [email protected].                                  
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    Dated: July 10, 1997.
Phillip A. Singerman,
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 97-18695 Filed 7-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-M